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Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Clay, Brooklyn and I had a lazy morning. The kids played and watched tv while I did laundry, cleaned up the kitchen, watched Diego the landscaper on tv, and generally procrastinated doing any real writing. When it was time to take Clay to preschool, I told the kids to go brush their teeth and get their shoes on. They disappeared into the bathroom for a few minutes so they could brush their teeth, then they came out and I helped them get their shoes on. Into the car we went. I pulled up at the preschool, got the kids out and started walking in. When we got up to the sidewalk, Brooklyn wrenched her hand free (I force them to hold my hand in the parking lot because I'm just mean that way.) and ran ahead of me.

That's when I finally saw it. The back of her head was green and blue. Her hair had been painted GREEN and BLUE and I hadn't even noticed it! Apparently when they went to brush their teeth, Clay decided to grab out the colored hair spray we have from bygone Halloweens (you know, the hairspray that's on the top shelf in the closet) and give Brooklyn a make-over.

Excellent. My 2 year old has a punk 'do.

"Clayton! Why did you put that in Brooklyn's hair?" I demanded of him as we waited for the teachers to open the doors and let us down the hall to his classroom.

"She wanted to be pretty," he answered like it was obvious. Clearly I was simple-minded to ask him such a ridiculous question.

"Clay, leave that stuff alone. You are not allowed to use it unless you ask me first. Understand?"

"OK, Mom," he agreed.

We sat there waiting for the doors to open a few more minutes. That's strange, I thought to myself. Are we really that early? Where is everyone else? Did I mess up on the time? Maybe we're really late. No, I'm pretty sure we're not late. Oh no! It must be Thursday! He doesn't have school today! Ugh. I got up and peeked into the office. My friend Val was there so I asked her, "Today's Wednesday, isn't it?"

"Yes," she confirmed.

I glanced at the clock. 1:05. Ugh, we're late now. "That's so strange. We were out there for at least 5 minutes. I didn't see any other parents. Very weird."

She told me to go on in so we rushed down the hallway to Clay's class. When we got there, we discovered that no one was in his class. The lights were all off. It IS Wednesday, isn't it? I was so confused.

We started to walk towards the gym when I remembered that they had a field trip today! I was supposed to drop him off at a different location for their trip! Duh! DUH! DUH! What kind of mom forgets their child's very first field trip??? He even reminded me yesterday afternoon! Seriously, I worry about my lack of brain function sometimes.

We quickly rushed down the hall and out to the car - me, Clay, and my teal haired baby.

Thankfully, the field trip location wasn't far from the school so I was able to get him there only 20 minutes late. I don't think he cared that he was late anyway because he was too busy asking me, "This is where we're going??? I thought we were going to the zoo!"

30 comments:

This is totally something I can see myself doing, and I only have 3 kids right now. I don't know how you keep everyone's schedules straight with 6 children and a husband to keep track of. Do you have an organizer you'd receommend? Of course my problem would be actually using it once I bought it.

yep, btdt, busy Mama moment. Mine was just last week. I was supposed to go help out in my kindergartners classroom, and was really looking forward to it. I even talked with her about it the day before. So, the next day, I get her on the bus, and continue to do laundry and stuff in the house. I didn't realize until 6 pm, that I forgot to go into school. I emailed the teacher, I felt horrible! But, my daughter didn't remember I was supposed to be there. And, I am going in 2x a month, to help out and am a room parent this year, so I have plenty of time to redeem myself...I hope Clay enjoyed his trip! And, love Brooklyn's hair!

Well at least you didn't leave him at home...My dad actually did that to me once...He got all the way to my school to drop me off and realized I wasn't in the car. And if anyone asks about Brooklyn's hair, just say you like to celebrate Halloween for the entire month of October! lol

We have one of those at a glance calendars on the kitchen wall. If it is not on the calendar, we will not remember it. Now to keep the monkey 2 yr old from climbing onto the table and tearing off the pages ahead of time...

I have 6 kids also and I remember those days...I'm in a different season now than you-oldest is 32, youngest is 17- 5 boys-1girl. Now have first grandson:) Your blog makes me laugh and remember --good luck with the hair color- my blonde kids had a harder time getting it out. I sent some "punk"-looking kids to conservative church school for a few days after trick or treating--that was looked down on too:) Yeah, I'm that mom:)Good times...

I finally got a planner last year to try to help me -- I always felt like I was chasing my parade instead of out in front leading it. RELUCTANTLY I agreed to try out the Busy Body Mom's Book (it was a fundraiser deal) and a year later bought a replacement AND one for my sister, it's that good.

http://www.busybodybook.com/Check it out -- it's got so much room for scribbling!

I'm not saying YOU need it, Dawn, just letting your other readers know about something that worked for me!

At least you got him to his field trip.I think each of my 3 kids have missed a field trip due to our normal tardiness or whatnot. Not to mention the whole forgetting to pack a lunch for the field trip.UGH!!It gets better *or so I am told*!!!:0) Trevor

It can ALWAYS be worse - I forgot to pick up my daughter at day care once and she was the only child I had!!!!!! I realized I had forgotten her when I reached over to open the car door for her and she wasn't there. I cried all the way back to pick her up, hating myself for being such an awful mom.

Hello, I found your blog and have been reading it and found a lot of it down right entertaining. I have three boys and they keep my life busy as well. I have a hard time balancing the three of them and boy, you make it look smooth. I would love to add you to my blogroll if you don't mind so I can read your updates. Please let me know and stop by and say hi sometime.

I'm not suggesting you need one, but someone asked so... Last year I found the BEST organizer EVER.http://www.amazon.com/2009-BusyBodyBook-Personal-Family-Organizer/dp/0979973732/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=IYKH5J5P4USY5&colid=3JS7DMGEB7GLB

It has five columns to keep track of five people. I'm not sure that would work for you but maybe, Brooklyn doesn't have to be anywhere right? Or you could halve some of the columns.

Dawn, no worries, as a preschool teacher, that is the teachers biggest fear.(That mom's will go to school instead of to the trip.) So trust me when I say you are not the first, nor are you the only. Thanks for reminding us all that we are human. :D

For those looking for a way to keep everything organized, go to http://www.busybodybook.com/index.html and check out their planners/wall calendars. It is a grid style that allows you to enter information for each individual in the family so you don't create conflicts. The planner has 5 grids and the fridge calendar has 7. Since I only have three kids, I have my husband's life on there too. I live with this thing!

And I am SO not looking forward to all three being in school. I feel a migraine coming on just thinking about coordinating the activities. Oy!

Don't worry, you're a few steps above me. 1st day of school, new school, First Grade, forgot to pick him up. Got a call while I was playing Beauty Parlor with the girls. Red faced and humbled, I promised it would never happen again!

The Month/Week/Day at a Glance calendars have been my bible for the last 15 years. They also help you figure out your scrapbooking (when did we go here? whose birthday party was that? why do I have green stuff all over me?)

You are an awesome mom, Dawn. As for the teal hair, remember in years to come: Color can be washed or stripped out; hair will grow back.Real tats are forever.

If it makes you feel better, I didn't read the soccer schedule 20 times like normal, and was late to my daughter's game. We missed the whole 1st half....Yay, Mom!!! I think I was more organized when I worked!!!

It does get better - they grow up and go out on their own. Then some major problem arises and you're right back in the middle for awhile, then things calm down again until the next crisis. Dads are there for their adult children but don't get involved at the same level, but, let's face it Moms are Moms forever... soo the way it really gets better is when you get old enough that they expect you to forget things.

=) The title of this blog is going to generate some seriously funny google searches!! = ) I can hardly wait to read them.

My kids each had a few friends stay the night not long ago. The girls all decided to spray their hair with colored hairspray and it wasn't long before the boys joined it. I sent a very blond haired boy home with pink and green hair that didn't wash out so easily. **Note to other parents....very fair haired children tend to really hold the color from colored hairsprays!! ** Thankfully his mom wasn't upset!

Oh, Dawn. It's okay, it happens to the best of us. My son's school is on and off track. When I dropped him off for school after being off track, I was so worried about getting him there on time. Apparently I dropped him off a week early! LOL!